City councils from five of the biggest centres are to carry out rental housing warrant-of-fitness trials in the New Year, with the aim of creating a national standard similar to the vehicle warrant of fitness.
The 125 rental houses to be surveyed in the trial comprise of a mix of private rental properties and council-owned buildings in Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
Wellington mayor Celia Wade-Brown made a commitment during the recent local government elections to introduce rental housing warrant of fitness policy.
Her council expects a relatively high fail-rate on such factors as lack of insulation, dampness and inadequate heating.
The Property Investors Federation opposes a warrant of fitness for houses, saying it will drive up rental prices.
